Handicapper Tips & Picks

Reason reigned and 3-BE MY BESTIE was scratched from a bottom-level maiden claimer a few days ago. Chances are she’ll still get claimed after narrowly losing her last two at the $25 claiming level but at least racing at his level makes more sense and just might save a few trees worth of claiming slips. 6-GETOUTOFMYKITCHEN could surprise. They have been trying to get her back in a turf race but all those races kept getting moved to the main track. She ran well in a maiden special at Canterbury last year and this group should be easier. 4-MADELYN ATTACK is another that can surprise. She’s jumping in class and trying turf for the first time but she could be the best speed and these McCrosky homebreds, with Forest Attack as the sire, always seem to do well when running on this course.

The abundance of tiring speed in here would seem to set up for a runner that comes from behind. Chicks For Free, Idea Man and Mud Island all fit that description but think I’ll go with 1-CHICKS FOR FREE. Like many in here, he’s dropping in class. He finished up the track in his most recent start but he had a ton of trouble early and never recovered. It’s been a long time since he faced rivals near this level. With the recent tightener behind him, as poor as it was, he should be able to roll by them all. 5-IDEA MAN has been meeting some tough rivals. He’s not dropping much in class but this still seems to be an easier field. 7-MUD ISLAND has been having a tough time getting the distance. He held the lead at one point in his last four races but couldn’t hang on. Not sure that will change in this race despite meeting easier rivals.

No standouts in this race so we’ll take a flyer and hope for the best. 4-GYURZA didn’t show a thing in her turf debut but this well-bred filly was meeting far better rivals and she pretty much help her position throughout. Would expect her to show more in this easier spot. 6-CRYSTAL SNOW should be gunning for the lead. She seems to be a couple lengths quicker than any of her rivals. Might not get the distance with the stretch out but they are going to have to catch her. 5-SUMMER BELLE could show the most sustained speed. She finished second by a nose the last time she raced at this level but that contest was on dirt. She has managed a pair of third-place finishes from four turf starts. Could be the best in this wide-open race.

5-SHACKLEFORD STRONG and 6-TWO WORLDS seem, on paper at least, to hold a considerable advantage over the rest of the field. Shackleford won four of his last six and finished second by a head in another. Two Worlds won three in a row earlier in the year and finished in the money in his three races since. However, he did finish third behind Shackleford in last despite going off as the odds-on favorite. 4-WEST WARPATH tossed in a bit of a clunker in last, finishing a full 10 lengths behind Shackleford Strong. However, he did beat allowance company in his previous start and narrowly lost in an allowance in his prior race. Got claimed from that last start. Might bounce back for his new barn.

9-I’M BOX OFFICE meets winners for the first time. But this well-bred runner looked the part when winning her local debut. Interesting to note that her rider chose this one over another he had been riding and that was listed as the morning-line favorite. She should get better with experience. Can win right back. 5-WANDA STRONG could finish fastest of all. This filly doesn’t always fire but when she does, she flies late. She won a state-bred allowance two starts back and finished third in a very tough heat last time out. Would be no surprise. 8-I OWE UNCLE MO, stablemate of top choice, deserves another chance. Well-bred runner was a dirt grad in his debut but didn’t show much run on turf last time out but figures to improve with experience.

3-W W HOTSHOT seems to be sitting on a win. He’s coming off two straight second-place finishes in fields at least as tough as this one. He’s a six-time winner at the distance. He’ll have to put away some other front runners but he could be up to the challenge. 7-UNCLE HEADLY might be poised to upset. As mentioned above, this race is filled with early speed. This gelding will be flying late. He won his first two Hawthorne starts. Might be able to take another. 6-LIFE IS HARD ships from a tougher circuit. Like that he’s turning back in distance and moving off the turf. Figures to be stalking the early pace. Might be able to edge by late.

The connections of 10-ENJOY THE MUSIC might have been hoping this race get moved to the main track but this gelding did show some turf ability early in his career. However, he’s been a Poly monster recently. He won 11 of his last sixteen starts, all of those wins coming on synthetic surfaces. Not sure when he’s here with Presque Isle still running but have to give him the benefit of the doubt. 3-EXPROMPT needed his first race of the year and his last race might have been too long but the cutback to this distance could be just what the doctor ordered. 4-GRAND HIDEAWAY rides a two-race win streak and he won his last three local turf sprints. These turf sprints always have a lively pace which will help to set things up for him. Can make it three in a row.